MCSHANE HAT TRICK SEALS TOWN WIN

Runcorn Town moved up to second place in West Cheshire League One after a James McShane fourth hattrick of the season sealed a 3-0 win at Christleton.

In terribly blustery conditions, both teams struggled in the first half with Christleton having two good early chances to open the scoring. Town could not adapt to the wind with Joe Davies having the best chance from inside the box after good work by McShane.

The opening goal came in the 44th minute with Will Dolan putting a great ball into the box with McShane powering the ball into the top left hand corner. Four minutes after the break McShane made it two when he muscled past the last defender before slotting past the keeper.

With the wind dying down, Town took command of the game with possession football that Christleton could not deal with, and numerous chances went begging before McShane made it three in stoppage time. Dolan played a superb cross field ball behind the defence that McShane ran onto, with the forward running on before netting his 21st of the season.

Town remain 11 points behind leaders West Kirby with four games in hand, with the top two still having to face each other in a real "six pointer" in April.

Meanwhile the reserves put in a disappointing performance after being held 1-1 by Ellesmere Port Reserves at Pavilions. Port took the lead in the first half after a defensive mix up, with Anto Ellison equalising for Town in the second half. The result leaves Town in third place, but the two points dropped may harm promotion chances with Bronze Social and Mossley Hill both winning.

Click here for match report

Posted at 11:23 on Monday 10th March 2008 - Viewed 250 times